DURBAN - The South African Police Service (SAPS) has urged livestock owners to remain vigilant over the festive season.
The SAPS has also provided livestock owners with tips to protect their livestock from criminals.
“Police are urging livestock owners to be extra vigilant when it comes to the security of their livestock with the festive season approaching,” SAPS said.
“Farmers, particularly in the rural areas are encouraged to be on their guard and make sure their animals are secured as much as possible.”
The police gave these tips:
- Monitor and count your livestock regularly;
- Report all stock theft cases immediately to SAPS;
- Keep a controlled livestock register;
- Mark your livestock according to the Animal Identification Act;
- Prevent stolen livestock from being hidden on your property; stock posts serve as ideal overnight stopovers to hide stolen livestock;
- Loading ramps in paddocks or on farms away from supervision should be kept locked or obstructed at all times;
- Livestock owners should keep all fences and gates in working order to protect their livestock and;
- Employees should be trained to pay attention to irregularities.
The police confirmed that there had been several stock theft incidents last week:
- In the early hours of Monday morning, November 8, 2021, Upington Crime Prevention and Rural Safety police arrested one teenager and two men who were transporting seven sheep and could not produce proof of ownership. Preliminary investigations led to the owner of the sheep who positively identified them by means of tattoo marks.
- On Friday, November 12, a man appeared in the Ganyesa Magistrate’s Court on a charge of stock theft. He had allegedly stolen 18 goats but only 13 were recovered and returned to the owner.
- Also on Friday, Hekpoort police officers arrested a 58-year-old man for possession of suspected livestock theft and bribery. He was transporting 17 unmarked goats and produced a fake permit and offered members an amount of R9 700 to let him go.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa) were searching for a herdsman responsible for two bulls, four cows, a calf and a sheep which were roaming through Brindhaven, Verulam, north of Durban.
Rusa spokesperson Prem Balram said community members had called them for assistance after one of the bulls charged at pedestrians on Rosemary Drive. The pedestrians managed to flee and were not injured. The herd was last seen on Litchi Crescent.
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